Print Report
G368 Salix alaxensis Arctic Wet Shrubland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group is defined by tall willow shrublands found in riparian corridors throughout the arctic, subarctic, and boreal alpine regions of Alaska.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Feltleaf Willow Arctic Wet Shrubland Group
Colloquial Name: North American Arctic Tall Willow Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group is defined by tall willow shrublands found in floodplains and riparian corridors throughout the arctic, subarctic, and alpine boreal regions of Alaska. Salix alaxensis is the dominant shrub with canopy heights often exceeding 2 m. Other common willows are Salix arbusculoides, Salix glauca, Salix niphoclada, Salix pulchra, and Salix richardsonii. Dwarf-shrubs include Arctostaphylos and Dryas species. In the herbaceous layer Eurybia sibirica, Chamerion latifolium, and Equisetum arvense have high constancy as do the grasses Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus and Festuca rubra and the legumes Hedysarum alpinum, Astragalus alpinus, Lupinus arcticus, and Oxytropis campestris. Mosses and lichens are uncommon in the ground layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group is defined by tall willow shrublands found in floodplains and riparian corridors. The dominant canopy species is Salix alaxensis; additional differential species include Eurybia sibirica, Equisetum arvense, Chamerion latifolium, Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus, Festuca rubra, Hedysarum alpinum, Astragalus alpinus, Lupinus arcticus, and Oxytropis campestris.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM Team 2003) did not map this within their project area, except in combination with "S2. Low-shrub tundra." They include Salix alaxensis, Salix arbusculoides, Salix glauca, Salix richardsonii, Alnus viridis ssp. fruticosa, and Alnus viridis ssp. crispa. The applicability of this group concept in Canada needs critical review. This group was compared with ~Western Boreal Mesic Alder - Willow Shrubland Group (G357)$$, and distinguishing characteristics were identified.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group is defined by broad-leaved deciduous tall shrubs where height depends on disturbance frequency and age of the stand.
Floristics: Salix alaxensis is the dominant shrub with canopy heights often exceeding 2 m tall. Other common willows include Salix arbusculoides, Salix glauca, Salix niphoclada, Salix pulchra, and Salix richardsonii. Dwarf-shrubs include Arctostaphylos and Dryas species. In the herbaceous layer Eurybia sibirica, Equisetum arvense, and Chamerion latifolium have high constancy as do the grasses Bromus inermis var. pumpellianus and Festuca rubra and the legumes Hedysarum alpinum, Astragalus alpinus, Lupinus arcticus, and Oxytropis campestris. Mosses and lichens are uncommon in the ground layer.
Dynamics: Flooding regime is the primary driver of tall willow communities in the Arctic. This group is successional on floodplains where they commonly develop from seral herbs and are eventually replaced by wet sedge or tussock tundra as flooding decreases, organic matter builds and permafrost aggrades.
Environmental Description: This group is defined by tall willow shrublands found in floodplains and riparian corridors throughout the arctic, subarctic, and boreal alpine regions of Alaska. Shrublands on broad floodplains of the Arctic Coastal Plain as well as narrow riparian zones in mountainous environments are included in this group. Patch size is linear following the terrace and point bar pattern along river courses. Soils are composed of well-drained sands and gravels and permafrost is absent or deeper than 1.5 m below the surface.
Geographic Range: This group occurs in floodplains and riparian corridors throughout the arctic, subarctic, and boreal alpine regions of Alaska. Its distribution in Canada needs to be determined.
Nations: CA,GL?,US
States/Provinces: AK, LB?, NT?, NU?, QC?, YT?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860831
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Np Arctic & Boreal Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D320 | 2.C.4.Np |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Np.1 Pendantgrass - Water Sedge - Tall Cottongrass Arctic Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M870 | 2.C.4.Np.1 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Np.1.g Feltleaf Willow Arctic Wet Shrubland Group | G368 | 2.C.4.Np.1.g |
| Alliance | A4360 Arctic Tall Willow Wet Shrub Tundra Alliance | A4360 | 2.C.4.Np.1.g |
| Alliance | A4361 Arctic Tall Alder Wet Shrub Tundra Alliance | A4361 | 2.C.4.Np.1.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Salix alaxensis - S. planifolia (Feltleaf willow - diamond-leaf willow) (Johnson et al. 1966)
> Salix lanata / Equisetum arvense (Wooly willow / field horsetail) (Webber et al. 1978)
>< S2. Low-shrub tundra (CAVM Team 2003) [The type description says: "Along drainages and near treeline, low and tall willows and alders are abundant." Tall shrubs are included within the CAVM S2 types. They are too small and narrow to map separately at this scale. These communities, though not mapped on the Alaska Tundra map (Raynolds et al. 2006a), are described in the table on the back of the map (see communities 51, 66, 67, 69, 70, 84, 85) (M. Raynolds pers. comm. 2012).]
> Salix lanata / Equisetum arvense (Wooly willow / field horsetail) (Webber et al. 1978)
>< S2. Low-shrub tundra (CAVM Team 2003) [The type description says: "Along drainages and near treeline, low and tall willows and alders are abundant." Tall shrubs are included within the CAVM S2 types. They are too small and narrow to map separately at this scale. These communities, though not mapped on the Alaska Tundra map (Raynolds et al. 2006a), are described in the table on the back of the map (see communities 51, 66, 67, 69, 70, 84, 85) (M. Raynolds pers. comm. 2012).]
- CAVM Team. 2003. Circumpolar arctic vegetation map (Scale 1:7 500 000). Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Map No. 1, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK.
- Craighead, J. J., F. L. Craighead, D. J. Craighead, and R. L. Redmond. 1988. Mapping arctic vegetation in northwest Alaska using Landsat MSS Imagery. National Geographic Research 4(4):496-527.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Johnson, A. W., L. A. Viereck, R. E. Johnson, and H. Melchior. 1966. Vegetation and flora. Pages 277-354 in: N. J. Wilimovsky and J. N. Wolfe, editors. Environment of the Cape Thompson region, Alaska. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Technical Information.
- Raynolds, M. K., D. A. Walker, and H. A. Maier. 2006a. Alaska Arctic Tundra Vegetation Map. Scale 1:4,000,000. Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Map No. 2. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK.
- Raynolds, Martha. Personal communication. Research Biologist, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK.
- Viereck, L. A., C. T. Dyrness, A. R. Batten, and K. J. Wenzlick. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. General Technical Report PNW-GTR286. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 278 pp.
- Webber, P. J., V. Komarkova, D. A. Walker, and E. Werbe. 1978. Vegetation mapping and response to disturbance along the Yukon River-Prudhoe Bay Haul Road. Pages 25-87 in: J. Brown, principal investigator. Ecological baseline investigations along the Yukon River-Prudhoe Bay Haul Road, Alaska. Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Cold Region Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH.